44 Russian and 44/40

[Schof45]

Ammo is not my strong suit so please bear with me.
I have two S&W Model 3 44 DA with the long cylinder (1 9/16) and both are also marked S&W 44 CTG on the side of the barrel so they are chambered for the 44/40. But 44 Russian cartridges will also fit in the cylinder.
Could these two calibers be used interchangeably or would the accuracy with the 44 Russian be horrible.

 

[greenwellg]

44/40 is a Winchester cartridge.
44 S&W is also known as 44 Russian
Add 1/8 th inch to the case and you have 44 special
Another 1/8th inch and you have 44 Mag.
I could be totally wrong but that is memory as old as President Nixon.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

.44 Russian was the basis for the later .44 Special followed by the .44 Magnum.

.44-40 is a different cartridge altogether, larger case head dimensions, different case body and mildly bottle-necked in profile. Overall, more closely comparable to .45 Long Colt (and .45 LC cases can be reformed to make .44-40). The original designation was .44 Winchester Center-Fire (WCF), a near-copy of the earlier .44 Henry Rimfire cartridge adapted to centerfire primer.

S&W revolvers were offered in .44 Russian and a later version for the .44-40. A knowledgeable collector may be able to advise you.

 

[murphydog]

On the New Model 3s, “.44 S & W CTG” is .44 Russian. A cylinder in this chambering will be straight with a chamber shoulder .97” from the rear face. The charge holes on a .44-40 will be tapered and the shoulder will be 1.6” deep.

 

[Schof45]

Thank you all for sharing your insights, very helpful.

 

[Exmilcop]

I don't have dimensions but since both cartridges have the case mouth stop in the chambers, one thing that may be visible in your pistol is the "halo" just back of the case mouth stop. I'm enclosing a pic that I hope may help. If your chambers have this "halo", it's pretty much a given that it's .44-40.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

It's a Russian , it is not a .44-40 or .44 WCF .

 

[cgt4570]

Yes, you can chamber a .44 Russian case in a .44-40 (.44WCF) chamber. Yes, it will fire. The .44 Russian case, if ignited in a .44WCF chamber will likely swell and split. The best scenario is a split and ruptured .44 Russian case that can't be re-used. The worst could be much worse. Have your chambers measured by someone who knows how.

 

[iby]

Ammo is not my strong suit so please bear with me.
I have two S&W Model 3 44 DA with the long cylinder (1 9/16) and both are also marked S&W 44 CTG on the side of the barrel so they are chambered for the 44/40. But 44 Russian cartridges will also fit in the cylinder.
Could these two calibers be used interchangeably or would the accuracy with the 44 Russian be horrible.

As said above..
44 S&W ctg means 44 Russian even though the cylinder is 19/16

 

[iby]

I have a New Model 3 with both 44 Russian and 44 WCF cylinders.
I assume the the bullets are similar enough to fire through the same barrel, But the cases are different